Driving home, you encountered a driver who was doing something you thought was not smart. They were driving too slowly and suddenly tried to veer in front of you while you were driving home from a stressful day at work.
Without checking to see that the next lane was clear, you changed lanes so you could get in front of this driver — and you sideswiped another vehicle, injuring the passengers.
A driver did something that made you angry
That driver got in front of you, then kept driving slowly. Because you wanted to be at home, inside, where you could relax, you got frustrated. Swinging out into the next land was dangerous. By doing so, you showed that you did not care about other peoples’ safety or for the rules of the road.
While your wish to get in front of a slower-moving vehicle and your frustration led to your actions, it may be an action that law enforcement deems as “reckless.” You could be criminally charged.
Why reckless driving is treated as a criminal offense
By ignoring the local driving rules, you can hurt more than one person in the other vehicle. Right after the slow-moving car elicited your frustration, you drove directly up behind them, trying to get them to speed up. When this did not work, you stayed behind the car, getting more and more frustrated or even angry.
While you committed more than one violation, the lane change may be the one that results in a criminal charge.
The effects of reckless driving charge may affect you for years
While you may now be at home after being arrested and booked, stress and regret will likely surface. Thinking of that day and hearing “charged with reckless driving” may make you wish you could take it all back.
Unfortunately, you have to face the music, learn about why you were charged with a crime and how you can defend yourself.
